How to Become a Vendor and Apply for Membership
Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor with the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association (KCFMA). Since 1986 we have served as a small business incubator for local farmers and artisans.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO BECOME A VENDOR.
Every vendor is carefully selected with a commitment to creating a diverse marketplace with the highest quality, locally produced food, crafts and more.
Do you qualify to be a vendor?
The first step in becoming a vendor at the KCFMA is to answer the following questions:
- Do you produce the item(s) you want to sell? The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market is a producer only market–that means all items offered for sale are grown, gathered, or crafted by the seller. Resale is not allowed.
- Do you produce these products within Kootenai County? Preference is given to Kootenai County residents. Producers from outside of Kootenai County may be considered if their product is not currently well represented at the market.
- Do you own/lease/rent or operate a storefront venue where the products are sold? If yes, you are only eligible to sell at the market if you are a Food Court Vendor.
Vendor Categories
The next step is to determine how you might participate at the market. The KCFMA offers three vendor categories: Agricultural Producers & Growers, Artisans Food and Craft Vendors, and Food Court Vendors.
Agricultural Producers and Growers produce agricultural products. If you grow crops or raise livestock as a farmer or gardener, or harvest raw products from nature (known as a wild-crafter), you may qualify as Producer/Grower vendor.
Examples of products sold in this category include vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, nuts, plants, honey, eggs, meat, and wool, as well as wild-harvested berries and gathered raw material for value-added products. Please see more details on the Agricultural Producers & Growers page.
Artisans Food and Craft Vendors create unique and quality artwork and crafts, primarily made from raw materials that have not been grown or gathered. Examples are articles of clothing and accessories, tools or ornamentation for the home or garden, body care products, or food products not for immediate consumption. All art and crafts must be juried (reviewed) by the Artistic Review Committee. Please see more details on the Artisan Food and Craft Vendors page.
Food Court Vendors are a special category of vendors who prepare a specialty food for immediate consumption on the market premises. At least 75% of the products on display and/or advertised must be for immediate consumption. Vendors are selected by the Board of Directors, and must meet all government and KCFMA health regulations. Food Court Vendors are not eligible for membership. Please see complete details on the Food Court Vendors page.
Market Policies and Regulations
All vendors must abide by the Policies and Regulations and the applicable Ground Rules (see below) set forth by the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Board of Directors. All vendors, members, and non-members alike, must sign an agreement to this effect.
How to Apply for Membership
Application for membership in the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association may be made at any time by submitting the completed membership application form to the Market Manager or Board of Directors.
Additional information may be included or requested to assist the Board in making a determination of eligibility. Application for renewed membership must be completed every year, and memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Applying early in the season is recommended as season passes and working memberships may not be available if the application is made after the Annual Membership meeting held in March each year.
Participation in the work parties for setting up and tearing down of the Saturday market site prior to opening day and at the end of the season is mandatory for all members. A $75 penalty will be levied for each missed work party. unless prior arrangement has been approved by the Board of Directors.
Membership Levels.
Two levels of membership are offered: Working Member and Non-Working Member.
Working Member: Willingly contributes a minimum of 10 hours each season in addition to the work parties. This requirement shall be fulfilled by actively serving on one of the committees or otherwise volunteering in a Board-approved market activity.
Those failing to uphold this agreement will forfeit their eligibility for this membership level the following season.
The dues for a working member are $100 per year.*
Member benefits include the opportunity to elect the Board of Directors each year and to vote on any proposed changes to the policies, regulations, and fee structure of the KCFMA; the opportunity to purchase a season pass at the market if available or, alternatively, reduced fees for space rental by the day.
Non-working Member: Is unable or unwilling to volunteer his/her time for the market, other than the two work days, which are mandatory.
The dues for a non-working member are $400 for a year.*
Those vendors who failed to fulfill their working member responsibilities the previous year, as well as those who apply after all working memberships for the year have been issued, will only be granted non-working membership.
Click on the link below for Policies and Ground Rules:
Season Pass: A season pass is available only to members and is a cost advantage if a vendor plans to participate in more than 10 selling days at one KCFMA site. It also ensures that the vendor will be located in same selling space throughout the season, making it easier to plan and create customized displays, and for customers to find them at the market.
Season passes must be purchased by April 1, and are non-transferable and non-refundable.
The vendor must occupy the assigned space prior to the opening of each market (7:30 am for Saturday and 3:15 pm for Wednesday). Otherwise the manager may assign the space to a day vendor.
Season pass holders must notify the manager in advance if they do not intend to occupy their space on any given market day.
The assigned space will be reallocated if a season pass holder fails to notify the manager if three consecutive markets will be missed. A season pass holder who does not occupy their space at least 50% of the market days in a given year may forfeit their right to a seasons pass for the subsequent year.
Two qualified members may share a season pass if they have registered their names with the Market Manager in advance of the first sale day.
All modifications or replacements to existing booths at the Saturday market site must be approved by Manager or Board of Directors before implementation.
As much as is practical (due to terrain and trees), a selling space at the Saturday market is considered to be 8’x 12’ or 10’ x 10’, depending upon location within the market. This space does not include a parking space, which, with few exceptions, is off the market site. A 2-foot aisle is allocated between each selling space. Spaces for the Wednesday market are 10’ x 10’.
Fees
Season Pass Fees:*
- Saturday: $500/space**
- Wednesday: $300/ space
- Combo (Sat. & Wed.) $700/space (2 spaces at both markets is $1400)
One third (minimum of $200) of the payment for a season pass is due by April 1, with another third due by June 15, and the remaining amount due by July 15.
Payment made in full at the Annual Meeting in March earns a 10% discount on fees.
**A few existing selling spaces established in the early days of the market exceed the space allowance and were grandfathered in. The Season Pass holder is levied an additional fee based on square foot overage.
Day Vendor Fees:*
- Members: Saturday, $40 | Wednesday, $30
- Non-Members: Saturday, $60 | Wednesday, $45
Food Court Fees:*
- Saturday: $60, or $550 for entire season if paid by opening day
- Wednesday: $45, or $400 for entire season if paid by opening day
*Vendor fees are determined yearly and are not set until after the March member meeting vote each season. Prices will be updated at that time.
Find your vendor category in the drop-down menu to access applications.
